Self-locking building block



June 20, 1939. E. P. MARs'AN SELF-LOCKING BUILDING BLOCK Fild Feb. 23, 1958 Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED .STATES 1PA-:TENT or FrcE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a masonry unit which can be used for a plurality of purposes in buildmgs.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method whereby a wall of single units on opposite sides of the supports may be erected without employing the use of sheathing.

Another object is to simplify the method of applying and locking the blocks quickly to the supports of the wall as will be shown later.

A further object is to provide a building block which when applied to the supports will create an insulating air space between the backs of opposite blocks. l

Another object is to have two adjacent blocks cover one face of the wall supporting member as will be shown later. Such supporting member may be steel, lumber, concrete, or other materials.

Another object is to provide rigidity to the supporting members.

A further object is to provide a wall, ceiling, roof and floor unit that is completely finished when the block is applied. Thereby eliminating furring, lathing, plastering and painting. When I refer to completely finished, it is to be taken in a broad sense. I mean these self-locking blocks can be made of concrete, clays, plasters, metal, lumber, or other compositions. The finishes can be of the encaustic type or of the other methods employed, such as synthetic tiles, metal coverings, metal spraying, or can have any design applied thereon.

In order that my invention shall be thoroughly understood I shall refer to the several illustrations of the accompanying drawing in the following description. In the drawing I have shown one form of the construction of the invention, but it is understood that I do not wish to limit myself to one such form since the invention, as expressed in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Fig. l is an isometric drawing showing the block in place between the supports as viewed from the front. v

Fig. 2 is an isometric drawing showing the rear View of the block in place with one support.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the wall.

Fig. 4 is an isometric drawing, drawn to a larger scale than the above mentioned figures showing the back of the block with the locks.

Referring to Fig. 1 the extensions of the block I-I' extend to the midpoint of the face of the supports, 2-2 minus a small allowance for a joint which can be made with mortar or some other form of binding agent. In order to clarify the above description and that which may follow the two opposite parts of the supports which are transverse to the plane of the wall will be referred to as the faces and the other two parts parallel to the plane of the wall will be referred to as the sides.

To obtain rigidity for the supports the rearward part of the block extends beyond the face of the supports a distance which is less than `one-half the depth of the supports as shown at 3 in Fig. l.

In Fig. 2 at 4 is shown one form of a slot which is continuous throughout the entire length of the supporting member.

When the heads of the locks 6 6 are pressed together in order to clear the sides of the supports and a force applied perpendicular to the plane of the wall on the face of the block the heads of the resilient locks snap into the above mentioned slot 4 as shown at 5.

In Fig. 3 at 1 is shown an air space which occurs between the backs of opposite blocks after the blocks are applied to the supports 2--2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged isometric drawing of the block showing the positions and the design of the locks. The lock is of resilient metal consisting of flanges 8 and I3, the body I4--I4 and the head |6--|6', I'l-Il, and lll-I8'. The flanges 8 and I3 have holes 9I0I I and I2; the purpose of these holes is to form a rm bond between the lock and the block. Flange I3 is imbedded in the block as shown. The hole I5-I5 in thebody l4-l4 is for additional security where such security may be required. The head It-I6', l'l-Il' and I8-l8 isthat part of the lock which snaps intoy the slot 4 and holds the block firmly in position.

I claim:

1. Building blocks adapted for a wall construction which has spaced supports each provided with a slot extending longitudinally of its face, said blocks comprising each a rearward extension equal to the height of the block and to the distance between the supports and extending only part way of the distance of the depth of said supports, each block containing locking members secured thereto and extending rearward therefrom, each member having means on the rear end to engage in the slot on said support and secure the block in position, so

that the securing means of blocks positioned on? opposite sides of a support will engage in oneV slot and the blocks will serve for making a cornplete outside section and likewise a complete inside section of the wall.

2. Building blocks adapted for a wall construetion which has spaced supports each provided with a slot extending longitudinally of its face, said blocks comprising each a rearward exten- Sion equal to the height of the block and to the distance between the Vsupports and extending to less than one-half the distance of the depth of the said supports,v so arranged that the rearward part of fthe blocks may be inserted in 'between the supports and allowing the side eXten- 

